Napolitano: ‘You can’t seal the border’

Homeland chief Janet Napolitano spoke before the Center for Strategic and International Studies Friday to defend the Obama administration’s efforts to secure borders and stifle critics that describe U.S. border communities as chaotic and unstable. Napolitano was critical of those who have leveraged such criticism to score political ground, warning that such incendiary portrayals are inaccurate and have a negative impact on U.S. border economies.

Her comments were quickly denounced by Republican Sens. John McCain and John Kyl, both of Arizona.

“Given the deployment of resources, given the statistical framework, it is simply inaccurate to state — as too many have — that the border with Mexico is overrun or out of control,” Napolitano said. “This statement, I think, sometimes it’s made to score some political points, you know. But it’s wrong. It’s just plain wrong.”

“The plain fact of the matter is that the border is as secure now as it’s ever been but we know we can always do more,” Napolitano said. “The notion that you’re going to seal that border somehow is something that anybody who’s been involved in the actual doing of law enforcement, the frontline work of law enforcement, would say you’re never going to totally seal that border.”

Napolitano also addressed the GOP idea that comprehensive immigration reform is off the table until borders are sealed. “The notion that you’re going to somehow seal the border and only at that point will you discuss immigration reform — that is not an answer to the problem,” she added.